After constantly saying, "next year I'll go," I finally made it to Dickens Fair! I had no idea what to expect other than San Francisco (actually Daly City) being transformed to late 19th century London. Was it a re-enactment? Was it a dance? Is it just a themed flea market? Well, it's all of the above, but I must say that I certainly enjoyed myself. I don't have any wardrobe that fits the Dickensian era, but my friend, Shelly, assured me that though many people do dress up, it's a hodgepodge of different eras: Victorian, Edwardian, Dickensian, early 20th century and modern. So I opted to go with the Christmas colors with a more 40s flair.
Let me tell, you those candy cane stockings and my Edwardian era shoes were a major hit. Oh and the red bow was a nice touch, but many vendors were itching to attach a feather to my hair. There were so many hat vendors and if I had the means, I would've come home with at least a dozen. My latest craze is the fascinator. I really need to learn how to make them because according to Shelly, they're so easy to make. (Right)
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| Fascinators Galore! |
I was mostly in awe of all the fashion and the effort people put into their costumes. You can tell some people's costumes are off the rack and yet many others who are probably professional seamstresses.
People really got into their character even so far as speaking English with a very British accent. And I couldn't understand the lingo. I kept looking at Shelly, and she also shrugged. Then I said, "I'm sorry. I only speak American. Wow! I never thought I'd here myself say that." Still, though, it was enjoyable to hear.
All throughout the fair, there were re-enactments, music and dance. We sat and watched the shows while enjoying our Hot Buttered Rum. T'was buttery.
As we reached the end of the fair, we decided to watch the dancers at Fezziwig's Warehouse. There was a live band, Bangers and Mash providing an assortment of music of that era; Waltz, Polka and country dancing. Myself a swing dancer, I could not turn down a request for a dance. However, I had to warn them that I am only a swing dancer and chorus girl, thus I have no experience in waltz. They were very gracious. I never laughed and whooped so much while I was dancing. It was truly fun. I really want to expand my dance repertoire, so I think I will start taking lessons in waltz and prepare for the upcoming Edwardian Ball.